Greaser's Passing: "Chico" Ryan Dead

He sang and played bass in one of the most popular novelty acts this side ofthe Village People. He was an international television star, and looked swellin a black motorcycle jacket and slicked-back hair. He was David Allen "Chico"Ryan of the retro-rock act Sha Na Na, and he passed away Sunday, July 26, inBoston of undisclosed causes. He was fifty years-old.

Ryan joined the group in 1973, four years too late for their gig at theoriginal Woodstock, but in plenty of time for their 1977-1981 hit televisionseries and appearance in 1978's Grease. Prior to joining the Na, Ryanwas a member of New Jersey's the Happenings, who had two Top 10 hits to theirname: "See You in September" in 1966 and "I Got Rhythm" in 1967.

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Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »

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